About my ratings

Perhaps because of my day job, I'm a tough rater. Everything 3/5 and above I consider worth the time and money. If I purchase on Etsy or a similar platform and the puzzle is as expected, I will give a top rating on the platform because of how seller ratings work, but here "as expected" is probably a 3/5 in most cases.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Westminster Palace, Wentworth

1000 pieces. Many, many architectural and London-themed pieces, including the word "London" and some two-piece bobbies.  Also cabs and buses, but the architecture made for even more straight-edged pieces than usual--I would guess that there were more straight internal pieces than border pieces.  4/5
starting out: black and white is a challenge, especially when the pattern repeats

a lot of progress; note bottom right where there's a Westminster Palace whimsy

done



Fish Magic, Liberty

517 pieces. Lots of birds, and one amoeba-like thing, but no fish--in single whimsies, anyway. There were repeating fishbone-type patterns throughout. 4/5
starting out

further progress

all done

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Ramsgate Sands, Optimago

800 pieces.  Big and challenging!  As usual, the prints chosen have details that come out only on assembly.  4/5
starting out--that's a lot of single-colored pieces!

ok, so maybe there are some variations

done with the people

finished

Puzzlemonk, The Gatherer

128 pieces. Beautiful and tricky little pieces, as usual. 4/5
starting out

some progress

getting closer

done

Monday, December 12, 2016

Waghenaer's Great Sea Chart of Europe, Optimago

600 pieces.  The usual: antique print, loose pieces, some tricky placement questions given the similarities across the picture.  4/5
starting out

not much left

with border

Flower Children, Artifact

510 pieces. Nice colors and cute flower illustrations. The pieces are bigger than those of many Artifact puzzles. Unsurprisingly, the whimsies are floral. 4/5
starting out

partway done

all done

Friday, December 9, 2016

Our Town, Wentworth

1000 pieces.  I like this artist--Colin Thompson--and the whimsies were mostly animal-related, with a lot of fine details that could really only be seen by turning the pieces over.  Not sure that's the best choice, but it was visually interesting during sorting.  5/5

Highly detailed fish



More of the whimsies, including  a couple of two-piece animals


mostly done

all done